Mozart Statue
© Tourismus Salzburg

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

270 Years of Mozart – Salzburg brings his legacy into the present with innovative experiences and fresh perspectives.

In the Mozart Year 2026, we bring tradition and the present together: culture meets movement, history meets pop culture, and world-renowned heritage becomes a living experience. Together with strong partners, we are creating innovative formats that take Mozart beyond the concert hall, bring him into everyday life, and make him accessible and engaging for every generation.

Why This Mozart Year Is Different:

Mozart in the Present

Mozart is part of Salzburg’s identity – but 2026 is not about looking back, it’s about moving forward. Together with institutions from the fields of culture, education, and tourism, a platform is being created that connects tradition with contemporary life. The goal is to foster a sustainable understanding of culture that reaches and inspires future generations.

Kickoff – Yoga Meets Mozart

At the DomQuartier Salzburg, live music and movement come together. Musicians from the University Mozarteum Salzburg accompany a special yoga series, thoughtfully aligned with Mozart’s compositions. A format that unites body and mind and reimagines how culture can be experienced.

Mozart & Pop Culture

Today, we see how artists around the world — across genres — continue to draw inspiration from Mozart. One example is the internationally acclaimed artist Rosalía, whose latest single features operetta-like elements and references Mozart’s works. Building on this trend, we launched a social media initiative: a choir interprets Rosalía’s song, demonstrating how Mozart’s influence continues to resonate in today’s pop music. At the same time, we engage younger audiences and underline that Mozart remains contemporary, creative, and vibrantly alive. The video will be available from February 22, 2026, here and across our social media channels.

Storytelling – Mozart in the 21st Century

In our digital series, Mozart comes to life in the 21st century and rediscovers his birthplace. Between wonder, overwhelm, and recognition, it becomes clear: Salzburg has changed — but his spirit remains. With a wink in true Mozart style, we present knowledge in an entertaining way and create a format that captivates all ages: exciting, educational, and infused with the composer’s unmistakable humor. The series will be available from summer here and across social media.

His Work

Mozart composed over 600 works, spanning a remarkable range of musical forms and styles:

  • Operas, including masterpieces like The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, and The Marriage of Figaro, which showcase his gift for drama, character development, and memorable melodies.

  • Symphonies, concertos, and chamber music, demonstrating his mastery of orchestration, harmonic innovation, and the ability to balance technical brilliance with lyrical beauty.

  • Sacred works, such as the famous Requiem, blending profound emotional depth with spiritual intensity.

Mozart’s music is renowned for its unique combination of technical perfection and expressive richness. It is at once highly sophisticated and deeply human, allowing listeners to experience both structural brilliance and emotional resonance. His compositions continue to captivate audiences centuries later, offering new insights with every performance.

A large orchestra and choir on stage receive a standing ovation from a full audience in a concert hall.

© Tourismus Salzburg GmbH – Orchestra in Großen Festspielhaus

Mozart as a Citizen of the World

Even as a child, Mozart traveled extensively across Europe, performing in courts, palaces, and major cities. These journeys exposed him to a wide variety of musical traditions and styles—from the intricate counterpoint of Italy to the sophisticated court music of France—which deeply influenced his later compositions. His early experiences as a prodigy not only honed his technical skills but also shaped his ability to blend diverse influences into a uniquely personal musical voice. As an adult, Mozart settled mainly in Vienna, where he produced many of his most important works, including operas, symphonies, and chamber music. Despite his professional success, his life in Vienna was often financially precarious. Mozart was known for his independent spirit and rebellious nature: he resisted rigid court hierarchies, frequently challenged conventions, and sometimes clashed with patrons and authorities. On a personal level, Mozart led a complex private life. He was devoted to his family—particularly his wife, Constanze Weber, and their children—yet he also had a playful, mischievous side reflected in his letters, humor, and even some compositions. He loved social gatherings, enjoyed wit and satire, and often injected this lively, irreverent energy into his music. Mozart’s combination of worldly experience, creative genius, and individualism made him not only a citizen of the world musically but also a figure who defied social conventions, embracing freedom, innovation, and self-expression in both life and art.

Who knows what Mozart could have achieved had he not passed away so young? His greatest public success was  The Magic Flute. Only a few weeks later, aged 35, he became bedridden and wasn’t able to finish probably his most important and impressive composition – the Requiem. His student Franz Süßmayr is said to have finished it or him. There has been a lot of speculation regarding Mozart’s death – claims of poison to syphilis through to a genetic illnesses, even the miliary fever recorded in the death certificate has been disputed.

 

„Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.“

. Mozart

One of the greatest composers in the world?

Mozart’s influence has remained huge to this very day. We have all heard of Mozart, recognise many of his compositions. His status today as probably the most famous composer in the world is not just down to his unbelievable talent. No, he constantly tried out new things, practised, worked hard and had the amazing skill of absorbing and retaining music. Nowadays we tend to think of Mozart’s music as easy-going, pleasant, with beautiful melodies – you simply have to think of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade no. 13). But in the last few years of his life, Mozart created some of his most beautiful works with religious music and operas. He has influenced generations of musicians.

Why Mozart Is Still Relevant Today

Beyond classical music, Mozart’s influence extends across genres and artistic forms. Contemporary musicians—from jazz and electronic artists to pop stars—draw inspiration from his melodies, harmonic innovations, and dramatic storytelling, demonstrating how his creative spirit transcends centuries and musical boundaries.

Mozart’s life itself continues to captivate and inspire. His pursuit of artistic freedom, often in defiance of social and professional constraints, his playful yet rebellious personality, and his relentless drive to innovate, reflect values that remain deeply relevant today. He exemplifies the balance between genius, individuality, and societal engagement—a model that resonates with modern audiences seeking authenticity and creativity.

Mozart is therefore not just a historical figure, but a living cultural symbol. In Salzburg, his birthplace and lifelong inspiration, his legacy is celebrated in museums, concerts, festivals, and educational programs, ensuring that his music, ideas, and spirit continue to influence, challenge, and delight generations around the globe.

Mozartstatue

© Tourismus Salzburg

Salzburg, the City of Mozart

Try and walk through Salzburg without stumbling over Mozart and his name. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether it has a genuine connection or is simply a clever business idea. Have fun finding out for yourself:

  • Mozart’s Birthplace is at Getreidegasse 9, close to the Staatsbrücke bridge. Mozart‘s family life comes alive on three floors. A must if you are visiting Salzburg.
  • Mozart’s Residence, where the family lived for nearly 15 years, is at Makart Square on the other side of Salzach and now also houses a museum. If you have the SalzburgerLand Card, then admission is free at both the Birthplace and the Residence.
  • The Mozarteum – one of the most famous conservatories in the world. Young musicians from all over the world flock to Salzburg every year to get a place at this institution that is nearly 180 years old. Treat your ears to one of the first-class performances by the students and lecturers of the Mozarteum held in concert halls in Salzburg.
  • Mozart Square: the statue of Mozart right next to the cathedral overlooks the composer‘s former place of work.
  • Mozartkugel: the ideal souvenir and gift for any occasion. Real pros insist on the original Fürst Mozartkugel – the ones with silver and blue wrapping paper.
  • You can see a number of exciting things, from Mozartsteg to various Mozart cafés and Mozart’s Residence through to violinists and flute players wearing Mozart costumes. But if you delve further into the souvenir shops, you’ll find a whole lot more …

Follow in the great composer‘s footsteps and discover Salzburg with the SalzburgerLand Card.

 

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